The earth gradually awakened, a sliver of morning light breaking the night's silence.
Kurozawa and Kanae were already dozens of kilometers away from Mount Sagiri, walking along a small path occasionally used by people.
A few dewdrops fell, bending the leaves. Kurozawa glanced at Kanae, who smiled at passersby from time to time, and couldn't help but say, "Aren't you tired? You smile at everyone."
He hadn't spent a long time with Kanae before and hadn't noticed this habit of hers.
She seemed to be trying to be friendly to everyone, even those she only met briefly, offering them a gentle smile.
Kanae chuckled lightly, her eyes narrowing. "My mother always said that people who smile are the most beautiful. Smiling brings joy, whether it's your own smile or seeing someone else's."
So that's it. Kurozawa understood a little. It turns out she wasn't born like this.
If he remembered correctly, the Kocho sisters' family died at the hands of Demons. She might be like Kocho Shinobu later on, maintaining a smile because of her family's will.
However, Kurozawa knew that unlike the later Kocho Shinobu, Kanae's smile might be genuine, and her kindness also struck Kurozawa as incredible.
"Kanae, I actually have a question about you that I've always wanted to know the reason for."
Remembering some rumors, and feeling a bit bored from walking, he asked Kanae curiously.
"What is it? Go ahead and ask. I'll tell you if I know."
Kanae nodded readily.
"I heard that you have sympathy for Demons and hope humans can coexist peacefully with Demons. Why?"
If she were someone like Kurozawa, who didn't hate Demons, it would be understandable. But Kanae's family died because of Demons. If it weren't for the Demon Slayer Corps, she and Kocho Shinobu wouldn't have survived either.
But with Kurozawa's way of thinking, it was truly difficult to comprehend having such hatred and still being able to forgive the other party.
Pausing her steps, Kanae said in an still gentle tone, "Kurozawa, how did Demons come to be?"
Kurozawa kicked away a stone blocking the path. "Humans infected and assimilated by Demon blood."
With the Demon King as the source, powerful Demons could turn humans into Demons with their blood. Once turned into a Demon, normal thinking would cease to exist. Their thoughts would be twisted, and negative emotions infinitely amplified.
Perhaps there were some who could initially suppress their demonic nature, but as time passed, as long as there were no accidents, the parts of them that were human would gradually be devoured. They would lose control more and more often, eventually completely falling into depravity.
"Yes, they came from humans." Nodding, Kocho Kanae's voice held a hint of emotion.
"Demons and humans are the same species. They were once humans, just like us."
"It's just that Demons are driven by desire and can't control themselves, but becoming Demons and harming others is not their fault."
"Facing Demons with a tragic fate, I cannot help but sympathize."
"But sympathy is one thing. I have never gone easy on Demons, because hunting Demons isn't just about saving people harmed by them, it's also about freeing them from their inner torment and suffering."
Truly gentle and kind. Kurozawa still couldn't understand, but he respected Kanae's thoughts and choices.
If the same thing happened to Kurozawa, he wouldn't care why the other person was like that, what difficulties or reasons they had. Let alone forgiveness, reducing them to ash might not even alleviate the hatred in his heart.
"Kurozawa, what about you?"
"If it were you, what would you do? Are Demons with tragic backgrounds, who were once human like us, not worthy of sympathy? Our enemy, in fact, has always been only one."
Reaching the spot where he had kicked the stone, Kurozawa gently kicked it again, sending it further away. When he was a child, he loved doing this, kicking a stone all the way home, finding it very interesting. Now, he occasionally had the same thought.
Hearing the hint of persuasion in Kanae's words, Kurozawa just shook his head. "Forget about being human before. Even if they were originally human, when it's time to act, I won't hesitate."
"Look, just like these stones all over the ground, they block my path. Is it easier to gently go around, or to kick them away with one strike?"
"Don't think too highly of humans. There are plenty of people more vicious than Demons. And considering the number of Demons, the number of humans killed by Demons is probably less than one percent of those killed by humans killing each other, no, maybe even one-thousandth, or one ten-thousandth."
This world had experienced national wars. Which war didn't result in the loss of tens of thousands of lives? Demons' appetites were limited, and they had to be careful not to attract the attention of the Demon Slayer Corps, so they rarely killed indiscriminately. The number of people killed by Demons was truly insignificant compared to wars.
Reaching the stone again, Kurozawa kicked it far away once more, enjoying himself.
Aside from those close to him, Kurozawa didn't feel much about whether other people lived or died. However, he had his own bottom line and principles. He wouldn't slaughter the innocent for Potential Points, nor would he lose his true self for strength. That would just make him a slave to power. Kurozawa only wanted to be the controller.
Looking at Kurozawa with some disappointment, Kocho Kanae stopped speaking.
Just as Kurozawa didn't understand her kindness, she also didn't approve of Kurozawa's cruelty. It was just that Kurozawa killed people who worshipped Demons, which Kanae could still barely accept for now. Otherwise, she wouldn't have wanted Kurozawa to go with her to Lotus Town to make up for his actions.
The two stopped talking and walked in silence. Suddenly, a noisy cawing sound echoed from above.
Looking up, two Kasugai Crows flew together. Kurozawa recognized the dead crow that belonged to him but never dared to approach him. The other Kasugai Crow had a small purple fabric butterfly decoration tied near its small bird head, which seemed to be Kanae's Kasugai Crow.
Kanae's Kasugai Crow landed and perched on her shoulder. Kurozawa's Kasugai Crow still circled in the air.
Soon, the two Kasugai Crows opened their mouths and spoke in unpleasant human voices. The sound was like a chainsaw grinding against another chainsaw, making one feel irritated.
However, what the Kasugai Crows said made Kanae's body tremble, and Kurozawa's expression also changed.
"Mount Fujikasane attacked by the Red-Clothed Female Demon. Flame Pillar Shinjuro Rengoku and eighteen mountain-guarding Swordsmen have fallen."
"Mount Fujikasane attacked by the Red-Clothed Female Demon. Flame Pillar Shinjuro Rengoku and eighteen mountain-guarding Swordsmen have fallen."
"Mount Fujikasane attacked by the Red-Clothed Female Demon. Flame Pillar Shinjuro Rengoku and eighteen mountain-guarding Swordsmen have fallen."
The two Kasugai Crows shrieked incessantly, repeating the same words five or six times before stopping.
Kasugai Crows were an important part of the Demon Slayer Corps' intelligence. What happened at Mount Fujikasane was seen by the Kasugai Crows of many Swordsmen, rapidly spreading through their unique method of communication, and simultaneously notifying nearby Swordsmen of the news.
However, the Kasugai Crows didn't dare to get too close to the battlefield during the fight. They only saw the process of the battle but weren't clear about the specific conversations. After simply relaying the message, the Kasugai Crows spread their wings again and flew high into the sky.
"How is that possible? The Flame Pillar..."
Kanae covered her mouth, visible sorrow spreading across her face.
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